U.S. Navy NC-2A Mobile Power Unit Model

The NC-2A is a carrier-based vehicle designed to provide external electric power to aircraft for pre-flight or maintenance purposes. It saw extensive service on the aircraft carriers of the U.S. Navy (including Essex / Oriskany, Midway, Forrestal, Kitty Hawk, Enterprise and Nimitz classes) from the late 1960s and until the late 1990s.

This 1:72 scale model kit, produced by F4Models (cat. # 7034), contains resin and photo etched parts to build one NC-2A vehicle.

For reference purposes, here are some historical photographs that show the NC-2A in action: photo; photo; photo; gallery (refer to image #2893).
Notes:
- The NC-2A unit was not a tractor; it was not designed to tow aircraft or ground support equipment.
- The rear wheels of the NC-2A are steerable, not the front ones.
- The A/S-37A-3 vehicle (see photograph), in use on the USN carriers since the early 2000s, is substantially different from the much earlier NC-2A and is not intended to be built from this kit. Consequently, this model kit is only suitable for the late 1960's through 1990's dioramas & aircraft and not suitable for the period from 2000 onward.
- This is not a copy of the Verlinden's kit; the Verlinden's kit had a number of inaccuracies in shape / geometry.
- This kit is only for modellers with experience and high level of skill.
- This kit production is very limited. Write directly for ordering.

U.S. Navy MD-3A Flight Deck Tractor Model

The MD-3A is a purpose-built flight deck tractor. It saw extensive service on all aircraft carriers and large-deck amphibious ships of the U.S. Navy, starting from as early as 1962 and until the late 1990s. Apart from the aircraft towing and positioning, these vehicles were employed to start up aircraft jet engines. For this purpose many were fitted with gas turbine start units mounted in the rear.

This 1:72 scale model kit, produced by F4Models (cat. # 7008), contains resin and photo etched parts to build one MD-3A tractor.

Notes:
- The MD-3A tractors were seen with at least three different types of the jet aircraft start unit; the kit #7008 includes the type of start unit that was the most common.
- Compared with the older plastic and resin models of the MD-3A tractor, the kit #7008  features the following:
   - Accurately shaped driver's compartment, with correct width (which is 36% of the real vehicle's overall width, whereas the older kits have it at 52% of the overall width), front and real walls.
   - Accurately shaped front and rear wheels (which have twin tires on the real MD-3A, whereas the older kits contain single-tire rear wheels).
   - Detailed jet aircraft start unit.

- A small number of MD-3A flight deck tractors were also employed on the Royal Canadian Navy's HMCS Bonaventure and on the Argentine Navy's Veinticinco de Mayo aircraft carriers.
- Somewhere in the mid 1990s the U.S. Navy started the process of upgrading the venerable MD-3A's with a newer version. This new tractor, designated as A/S32A-31A, differed from the original by having wider and slightly raised aft end, wider rear wheels and some other minor improvements. Having a different geometry, the A/S32A-31A variant is not intended to be built from this kit. Consequently, this model kit is only suitable for the 1960's through 1990's dioramas & aircraft and not suitable for the period from 2000 onward.
- This kit is only for modellers with experience and high level of skill.
- This kit production is extremely limited. Write directly for ordering.

U.S. Navy NC-5A Mobile Power Unit Model

The NC-5A is land-based vehicle designed to provide external electric power to aircraft for pre-flight or maintenance purposes. It saw service on the U.S. Navy Air Stations and Marine Corps Air Stations from the mid-1950s until the mid-1970s. Within this period, the NC-5A was employed to service all types of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft of the Navy and Marine Corps.

This 1:72 scale model kit, produced by F4Models (cat. # 7024), contains resin parts, photo-etched parts and decals. It includes an option allowing to open up the rear compartment that houses power cables and is visible when the vehicle is powering up an aircraft.

For reference purposes, here are some historical photographs that show the NC-5A in action: photo, photo, photo, photo.
Notes:
 - The Navy and Marine Corps NC-5As were used as power units; they did not tow aircraft or ground support equipment.
 - This vehicle is a land-based equipment, but in a few isolated cases NC-5As were seen on aircraft carrier decks (e.g. during flight test programs).
 - The MA-1 mobile power unit employed by the U.S. Air Force is substantially different from the Navy's NC-5A and is not intended to be built from this kit.
 - This kit is for modellers with experience and high level of skill; do not buy this kit if you build your kits "out of the box" and use paint brush to hand-paint them.

U.S. Navy NC-8A Mobile Power Unit Model

The NC-8A is a land-based vehicle designed to provide external electric power to aircraft for pre-flight or maintenance purposes. It saw extensive service on the U.S. Navy Air Stations and Marine Corps Air Stations from the early 1970s and until the early 2000s.

This 1:72 scale model kit, produced by F4Models (cat. # 7025), contains resin and photo etched parts to build one NC-8A vehicle with an option allowing to open up the rear compartment that houses cable reels and is visible when the vehicle is powering up an aircraft.

For reference purposes, here are some historical photographs that show the NC-8A in action: photo, photo, photo, photo.
Notes:
- The NC-8A unit was not a tractor; it was not designed to tow aircraft or ground support equipment.
- This vehicle is a land-based equipment, it did not serve on aircraft carriers.
- This is not a copy of the Verlinden's kit; the Verlinden's kit had a number of inaccuracies in shape / geometry.
- This kit is for modellers with experience and high level of skill; do not buy this kit if you build your kits "out of the box" and use paint brush to hand-paint them.

U.S. Navy Aircraft Boarding Ladders

UPDATE: Now manufactured by Brengun from Czech Republic.

A number of the U.S. Navy carrier-based aircraft types lacked self-boarding capability and required external access ladders for the crews to get to their cockpits. The types that needed boarding ladders for crew access included the F7U Cutlass, F3H Demon, F4D Skyray, A-4 Skyhawk and A-5A / RA-5C Vigilante. At this time I present 1:72 scale photo-etched boarding ladder sets for the Cutlass, Skyhawk and Vigilante.

F7U Cutlass Boarding Ladder
This set (# 7015) includes one boarding ladder. Compared to the original item released in 2012, the one available now is revised for better accuracy.

See some  historical photographs that show this boarding ladder in use: link, link.
Recommended F7U-3 Cutlass kits: Fujimi.

A-4 Skyhawk Boarding Ladder
This set (# 7014) includes one boarding ladder. Compared to the original item released in 2012, the one available now is revised for better accuracy.

See some historical photographs that show this boarding ladder in use: link, link.
Notes:
 - This type of ladder was also used by a number of other nations that operated the Skyhawk, including Argentina, Australia, Kuwait, New Zealand and Singapore.
 - The Blue Angels team, when flying the Skyhawk, has employed a totally different ladder (see link). 
Recommended A-4 Skyhawk kits: Fujimi; new Airfix.

A-5A / RA-5C Vigilante Boarding Ladder
This new set (# 7031) includes two identical boarding ladders.

See some historical photographs that show the Vigilante boarding ladders in use: link, link.
Recommended RA-5C Vigilante kits: Trumpeter.

U.S. Navy JG-75 Flight Line Tractor with GTC Trailer Model

The JG-75 flight line tractor is a land-based vehicle that saw service on Naval Air Stations and Marine Corps Air Stations since the mid-1960s until the late 1980s. Its primary purpose is towing various types of non self-propelling ground support equipment. The tractor is also capable of towing small to medium-sized aircraft.

The purpose of the trailer is to provide compressed air for starting aircraft jet engines. It is a land-based, non self-propelled item that was in service on Naval Air Stations and Marine Corps Air Stations since the early 1960s until the early 1990s. This type of start unit was employed to pre-flight such aircraft types as the A-3 Skywarrior, A-4 Skyhawk, F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II, A-6 Intruder, A-7 Corsair II, EA-6 Prowler and F-14 Tomcat.

This 1:72 scale model kit is from F4Models (cat. # 7027). The kit contains resin and photo etched parts to assemble the tractor and the trailer.

Here are some photographs of the real things in action: tractor – photo, photo, photo, photo; trailer – photo, photo.
Notes:
 - Neither the tractor nor the trailer are intended for use on ships. Do not place these models on a carrier deck diorama. The fact that some preserved items are currently exhibited on carrier decks by the USS Hornet Museum and USS Midway Museum is irrelevant.
 - The tractor model kit was designed basing on historical photographs. Note that a preserved vehicle from the USS Hornet Museum may have some non-standard modifications, not necessarily authentic.
 - This kit is for modellers with experience and high level of skill; do not buy this kit if you build your kits "out of the box" and use paint brush to hand-paint them.

U.S. Navy Air-Transportable Aircraft Start Unit Model

The purpose of this item of ground support equipment is to provide compressed air for starting aircraft jet engines. Specially designed by Douglas for the U.S. Navy as an air-transportable unit, it was intended to be carried by fighter or attack aircraft on a standard ordnance pylon, thus allowing them to self-deploy. Inside the teardrop-shaped pod was a small gas turbine, and everything needed for operating the cart was stowed in internal compartments. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s this start unit was frequently seen on Naval Air Stations and Marine Corps Air Stations. It remained in service, albeit in very small numbers, into the early 1970s, with the Blue Angels team using such items even in the 1980s until it has phased out its Skyhawks.

This type of start unit was employed to pre-flight such aircraft types as the A3D Skywarrior, A4D Skyhawk, F4D Skyray, F3H Demon, F11F Tiger, F-8 Crusader and F-4 Phantom II.

The 1:72 scale model kit, produced by F4Models (cat. # 7019), contains resin and photo etched parts to assemble two compete start units.

Here are some photographs of the real thing in action: link, link, link.

Detail Set for StepVan 1970s-1990s USAF Flight Crew Vehicle Model

There is a 1:72 scale plastic kit (Hasegawa # X7207) that contains parts to build a Chevrolet StepVan flight crew vehicle frequently seen on USAF air bases as well as on some Naval and Marine Corps Air Stations throughout the 1970s and until the 1990s. Although well moulded, this kit could benefit from additional fine detailing.

Therefore, we present a detail set intended for those who wish to get more from the aforementioned plastic kit. This 1:72 scale resin and photoetched metal set, made by F4Models (cat. # 7030), contains correctly shaped "no mask" wheels, dashboard, finely etched radiator grille and windshield frames, rear view mirrors, windshield wipers and badges.

This detail set is for experienced modelers only, as applying it will require careful removal of certain details from the base kit.

Here is my StepVan built using this set:

For reference purposes, here are some historic photographs that show USAF (link, link, link) and U.S. Navy (link) vans in action.

Correction Set for NC-2A & NC-8A U.S. Navy Mobile Power Unit Model Kits

There is a 1:72 scale resin kit (Verlinden # 2584) that contains parts to build two U.S. Navy support vehicles: NC-2A carrier-based mobile electrical power unit and NC-8A land-based power unit seen on Naval and Marine Corps Air Stations. Although well moulded, this kit has a number of substantial inaccuracies. These are highlighted in a review article that can be found here.

Therefore, we present a correction set that is intended to rectify most of the problems of the aforementioned resin kit. This 1:72 scale photoetched metal set, made by F4Models (cat. # 7032), contains correctly shaped front and rear panels for both NC-2A and NC-8A vehicles plus fine mesh radiator grilles, dashboards, steering wheels, tie down rings and other tiny details. For the NC-8A model, some interior parts are also included, allowing to open up a rear compartment that houses cable reels and is visible when the vehicle is actually powering up an aircraft.

This correction set is for experienced modelers only, as applying it will require careful removal of certain details from the base kit.

Here are my NC-8A and NC-2A models built using this set:

Also, here are some historical notes on those vehicles in service with the USN and the USMC. First, it must be noted that neither vehicle is a tractor; they are not designed to tow aircraft. Then, diorama builders should remember that the NC-8 units are for land bases only and do not go to sea on carriers, whereas the NC-2 units are, vice versa, strictly carrier-based. Finally, one should always take the time frame into account. Both types have been in service since the early 1970s and until the end of the century; they are in active service no longer. NC-2A's replacement on carrier decks, the new A/M37A-3, although similar in appearance, has a number of substantial external differences – see the diagram below. One should not therefore place an NC-2A model along, say, a present-day Super Hornet.


For reference purposes, here are some historic photographs that show NC-2A (link, link) and NC-8A (link, link) mobile power units in action. Also, here one can see a picture of a Hellenic Air Force NC-8A in active service as late as 2007.

U.S. 1940s-1950s Aircraft Maintenance Crane Model

During the Second World War and the Korean War years the U.S. armed forces, including the USAAC / USAF, the Navy and the Marine Corps, used this type of crane for performing maintenance on their aircraft based in theatre. Having no motors, these cranes have been manually operated and employed to handle bulky items like aircraft engines and propellers.

This 1:72 scale model kit is from F4Models (cat. # 7029). It is entirely photoetched metal. To complete the kit, a modeller will need thin wire or thread to imitate the crane's rigging.

A photographs showing a USMC crane in action in Korea: link.

USAF & U.S. Navy 1950s Utility Pickup Truck Model

This type of Ford F-1 pickup truck was in service with the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy throughout the 1950s. It was used for various utility roles mostly on the Continental U.S. air bases.

This 1:72 scale model kit is from F4Models (cat. # 7020). The kit contains resin, photo etched and clear parts. Decals are provided for three versions: USAF, U.S. Navy and civilian.

Some photographs of the real vehicles: U.S. Navy, USAF, Civilian 1, Civilian 2.

U.S. Navy A/S32A-31A Flight Deck Tractor Model

The A/S-32A-31A flight deck tractor was in service on all U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and amphibious ships between the mid-1990s and mid-2010s, including Kitty Hawk, Enterprise and Nimitz class carriers as well as Whidbey Island, Harpers Ferry, Austin, Tarawa, Wasp and San Antonio class amphibious ships. On aircraft carriers this type of tractor was typically equipped with a gas turbine unit for starting jet aircraft engines. 

This 1:72 scale model kit, manufactured by F4Models (cat. # 7002), contains resin and photo etched metal parts, decals and instruction sheet. Parts are provided to assemble the tractor with or without the air start unit (two variants of the air start unit are offered).

Note that the assembled kit on the photographs above contains an inaccuracy: in reality the driver's cutout should be slightly narrower. The resin parts have been corrected since, and the kit content photograph (see below) shows the correct driver seat layout.

Here are some photographs of this type of tractor in action: link, link, link, link.

Externally the A/S-32A-31A tractor differs from the older MD-3 (in use since the 1960s through the 1990s) by wider rear fenders, slightly raised rear deck, different wheels and, starting from the mid-2000s, a totally new air start unit, as indicated on this diagram: